Combating New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Mortality Crisis

On Maternal Health Awareness Day 2019, First Lady Tammy Murphy launched Nurture NJ, a statewide initiative committed to transforming New Jersey into the safest and most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.

Currently, New Jersey is ranked 27th in the nation for maternal deaths^[1] and has one of the widest racial disparities for both maternal and infant mortality. A Black mother in New Jersey is almost seven times more likely than a white mother to die from maternity-related complications, and a Black baby is over three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday. For Hispanic mothers, the rate is 3.5 compared with white mothers and for Hispanic babies, the rate is 1.6.^[2]

Nurture NJ encompasses the entire work of the Murphy Administration on maternal and infant health. In addition to the Strategic Plan, Nurture NJ’s ongoing efforts include over 65 pieces of maternal and infant health legislation signed by Governor Murphy, funding for groundbreaking programs and policies, an annual Black Maternal and Infant Health Leadership Summit, a Family Festival event series, and the development of a first-of-its-kind Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority to continue the work beyond this administration.

Together, we are solving this crisis and will make New Jersey the safest, most equitable place in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.